Go tell my brothers: Mat 28:10

On the third day after Jesus' crucifixion, the two Marys went to the tomb see the place where Jesus was laid. However, when they got there, the tomb was open, and Jesus' body was no longer there. As they were leaving, Jesus met the two Marys and said, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me." (Mat 28:10) What I find interesting in this verse is how Jesus refers to his disciples. Jesus uses the Greek word for “brothers,” which can mean a naturally born brother, a fellow countryman, for simply a fellow man. Jesus did not refer to them as his disciples, his servant, or his underlings, but his brothers. We often think of God as our father and Jesus as our Lord, but rarely think of Jesus as our elder brother. Yet the writer of Hebrews says, “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Heb 2:11)

Understanding this verse in this manner causes me to ask myself, “If Jesus views us as his brothers and sisters, how should I view others around me?” Jesus told us to be careful of titles and of seeing ourselves as being over or above others. He said, “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.” (Mat 23:8) In our western model of church where we so often overlay a business model upon the church with its many layers of authority; with each layer being over another as each layer is beneath another. Within such a model, it is tempting to see people in terms of how they fit into our authority structures rather than simply brothers and sisters. I believe that any church structure or model that erodes the universal brotherhood (and sisterhood) of believers runs counter to the message of Christ. Let us cease looking at others in regard to their position relative to us and let us resume seeing each other as our brothers and sisters in Christ.